Nut splitting tool

ABSTRACT

A stationary cutter and a movable cutter are supported in alignment along a common cutting axis by a head fixedly mounted at one end of a shank. The movable cutter is driven along the cutting axis between a retracted position away from the stationary cutter and an extended position toward the stationary cutter by a cam pivotally mounted in the head. A connecting rod couples the cam to an actuating screw threadedly mounted in the other end of the shank along an actuating axis perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis. As the actuating screw is turned along the actuating axis between first and second stop positions the connecting rod actuates the cam to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis between the retracted and extended positions.

United States Patent Gilmore [54] N UT SPMTTING TOOL Arnold L. Gilmore, 2758 El Sabronte St., Santa Clara, Calif. 95051 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 865,378

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..30/184 [51 Int. Cl ..B26b 17/02 [58] Field of Search ..30/182, 183, 184, 241, 242.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 67,788 4/1893 Germany ..30/183 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney-Roland l. Grifiin [57] ABSTRACT A stationary cutter and a movable cutter are supported in alignment along a common cutting axis by a head fixedly mounted at one end of a shank. The movable cutter is driven along the cutting axis between a retracted position away from the stationary cutter and an extended position toward the stationary cutter by a cam pivotally mounted in the head. A connecting rod couples the cam to an actuating screw threadcdly mounted in the other end of the shank along an actuating axis perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis. As the actuating screw is turned along the actuating axis between first and second stop positions the connecting rod actuates the cam to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis between the retracted and extended positions.

13 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTED M 91912 3,660,897

SHEET l 0F 4 INVENTOR T ARNOLD L. GILMORE ISUFG l2 BY 3 z J E ATTORNEY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a nut splitting tool in which the splitting action and the actuation of the splitting action take place along perpendicularly intersecting axes.

The back-up nuts typically used in mounting faucets and water inlets on associated plumbing fixtures very frequently become rusted and difficult or impossible to remove with a wrench. In the past such nuts have typically been removed by splitting then with a drill. Considerable time and effort may be required to split these nuts in this manner since they are very often located in places where they are difficult to see or reach.

Accordingly, theprincipal object of this invention is to provide an improved nut splitting tool for more simply splitting these'and other nuts that have become difficult to remove.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved nut splitting tool that may be simply adapted for positively splitting nuts of a wide range of sizes. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a nut splitting tool that is designed to operate effectively even though subjected to rough handling and adverse environmental conditions and that is designed to pennit any parts that should get excessively worn or damaged to be easily replaced.

These objects are accomplished according to the preferred embodiment of this invention by fixedly mounting a head at one end of a shank to support a stationary wedge-shaped cutter and a movable wedge-shaped cutter in alignment alonga common cutting axis, and by threadedly mounting an actuating screw in the other end of the shank to turn between first and second stop positions along an actuating axis perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis. The movable cutter is supported for translational movement along the cutting axis by a pair of guide channels formed in the head, and the stationary cutter is fixedly mounted along the cutting axis at the closed end of a generally horseshoe-shaped collar demountably supported at its open and by the head. A cam is pivotally mounted in the head to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis between a retracted position substantially withdrawn from the horseshoe-shaped collar and an extended position protruding into the horseshoe-shaped collar toward the stationary cutter. The actuating screw and the cam are mechanically coupled by a connecting rod so that turning the actuating screw along the actuating axis between the first and second stop positions actuates the cam to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis between the retracted and extended positions.-

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nut splitting tool according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1 with the cap at the upper end of the shank removed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are half-sectional side views of the nut splitting tool of FIG, 1 with the movable cutter in its retracted and extended positions, respectively.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are. top and front views, respectively, of the head used in the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are top and front views, respectively, of the movable cutter used in the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are bottom and back views, respectively, of the nut engaging collar used in the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1 with the stationary cutter mounted in place.

' FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the stationary cutter used in the nut splitting tool ofFIG. l.

FIG. 12 is a back view of the cam actuating mechanism used in the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the cam used in the nut splitting tool ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cap that may be used in the nut splitting tool of FIG. 1.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a nut splitting tool 10 according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, this nut splitting tool has a head 12 with a hollow cylindrical sleeve 14 and an adjoining shoulder 16 that projects outwardly from the front of the sleeve. The top of head 12 lies in a plane perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis of sleeve 14. Head 12 is mounted on the upper portion of a hollow cylindrical shank 18. This is done by press fitting or welding sleeve 14 onto the upper portion of shank 18 with the longitudinal axes of the sleeve' and the shank coinciding, with shoulder 16 projecting outwardly from the front of the shank, and with the top of head 12 lying in a horizontal plane perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis of the shank at a point slightly above the top end of the shank. It is preferable to press fit sleeve 14 onto the upper portion of shank 18 in order to facilitate replacement of the head or shank should either one get excessively worn ordamaged. A vertical slot 20 in the front of sleeve 14 and in an adjoining portion of shoulder 16 is aligned with a wider vertical slot 22 in the front of the upper portion of shank 18 to provide clearance for a cam 24. These slots and head 12 have a common vertical plane of symmetry that includes the longitudinal axis of shank 18. The upper portion of slot 20 communicates with the top of head 12 from the front of shoulder 16 through the front of sleeve 14. This provides a passageway 26 for translational movement of a movable cutter 28 along a cutting axis 30. The cutting axis 30 lies in the vertical planev of symmetry of slot 20 (and hence of passageway 26), is parallel to the top of head 12, and perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of shank 18. A pair of adjacent channels 32a and 32b are disposed in the oppositely facing sides of passageway 26 parallel to the top of head 12. These channels coextensively extend along the full length of the bottom portion of passageway 26. They guide and support the movable cutter 28 for sliding translational movement along the cutting axis 30.

As" best shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 7-8, movable cutter 28 has a wedge-shaped part 34 of the same height as passageway 26. The front portion of wedge-shaped part 34 is symmetrically tapered in width to provide a vertical cutting edge 36 for movement along the cutting axis 30 in the vertical plane of symmetry of passageway 26. Movable cutter 28 also has a shoulder 38 that extends laterally outward from both sides of wedge-shaped part 34 along the lower portion thereof. Shoulder 38 slidably engages channels 32a and 32 b in head 12 and thereby limits movable cutter 28 to sliding translational movement along the cutting axis 30. A portion 39 of shoulder 38 trails behind wedge-shaped part 34 and serves as a follower for cam 24. This trailing follower portion of shoulder 38 has a slot 40 for slidably engaging an arm 42 of cam 24 so that pivotal movement of the cam drives movable cutter 28 along the cutting axis 30.

As further shown in FIGS. 1-6, a pair of lugs 44a and 44b extend laterally outward from both sides of shoulder 16 along the front portion thereof. The top surfaces of lugs 44a and 44b lie in a horizontal plane including or slightly below the bottom of passageway 26. This plane is parallel to the top of head 12 and perpendicular to the vertical plane of symmetry of passageway 26. A pair of circular holes 46a and 46b extend vertically through lugs 44a and 44b with the axes of symmetry of the circular holes being disposed on opposite sides of and parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry of passageway 26. These holes serve as sockets for demountably supporting a generally horseshoe-shaped collar 48 in place on lugs 44a and 44b.

As best shown in FIGS. 14 and 9-10, horseshoe-shaped collar 48 is equal in height to the vertical distance between the top of lugs 44a and 44b and the top of head 12. It has a circular opening 50 that extends vertically therethrough for receiving a nut 52 (flanged, as shown, or otherwise) to be split. Horseshoe-shaped collars 48 with openings 50 of different shapes and sizes may be interchangeably employed to accommodate nuts of a wide range of different shapes and sizes. Circular opening 50 has beveled upper and lower edges 54 and 56. The beveled upper edge 54 may serve to provide clearance for an enlarged washer 58 such as is sometimes employed with the nuts used on water inlets and other plumbing fixtures. I-Iorseshoe-shaped collar 48 also has a vertical slot 60 that extends through the back portion thereof so that the collar may be placed around a conduit 62 associated with nut 52 and then fitted around the nut without disconnecting or severing the conduit. Slot 60 is also adapted for receiving the upper front portion of shoulder 16 so that the adjacent back end portions of horseshoe-shaped collar 48 may be mounted in place on lugs 44a and 44b. The front portion of shoulder 16 (and of the adjoining portions of lugs 44a and 44b) is curved to conform with the periphery of circular opening 50 when horseshoeshaped collar 48 is mounted in place on lugs 44a and 44b. A pair of circular mounting pins 640 and 64b slightly smaller in diameter than circular socket holes 46a and 46b extend vertically downward from the adjacent end portions of horseshoeshaped collar 48. The axes of symmetry of these mounting pins are spaced apart by the same distance as the axes of symmetry of socket holes 46a and 46b and are parallel to the vertical plane of symmetry of horseshoe-shaped collar 48. Mounting pins 64a and 64b are simply inserted into socket holes 460 and 46b to demountably support horseshoe-shaped collar 48 in place on lugs 44 a and 44b. This permits the mounted horseshoe-shaped collar 48 to be quickly and simply replaced by another horseshoe-shaped collar for nuts of a different range of shapes and sizes. Mounting pins 64a and 64b have beveled lower edges 66a and 66b to facilitate their insertion into socket holes 46a and 46b. One mounting pin 64a is also longer than the other so that the slotted back portion of horseshoeshaped collar 48 may be pivoted away from head 12 and placed around the conduit 62 without completely disengaging the collar from head 12. When mounted in place on lugs 44a and 44b, horseshoe-shaped collar 48 projects outwardly from the front of head 12 with its bottom surface lying in the same plane as the top surfaces of the lugs and with its top surface lying in the same plane as the top surface of the head. Moreover, the vertical plane of symmetry of horseshoeshaped collar 48 then includes the cutting axis and perpendicularly intersects the plane of the top of head 12. This permits movable cutter 28 to be driven along the cutting axis 30, through slot 60, and into vertical abutment upon a side of the nut 52 when the nut is positioned within the circular opening 50 of horseshoe-shaped collar 48.

A stationary cutter 68 protrudes inwardly from the front portion of horseshoe-shaped collar 48 toward the slot 60 in the back portion thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 9-1l, this stationary cutter has a wedge-shaped part 70 of the same height as movable cutter 28. The height of wedge-shaped part 70 may alternatively be made less than that of movable cutter 28 by the amount the upper edge 54 of circular opening 50 is beveled in order to provide clearance for the washer 58. Wedge-shaped part 70 is tapered in width to provide a vertical cutting edge 72. Stationary cutter 68 also has a shank 74 with a square (or some other non-circular) cross section. Shank 74 is press fit into a square (or some other non-circular) hole in the front portion of horseshoe-shaped collar 48 so that its top surface lies in the plane of the top surface of the collar or, alternatively, in a parallel plane lower by the amount the upper edge 54 of circular opening 50 is beveled. Stationary cutter 68 is further disposed so that the cutting edge 72 of wedgeshaped part 70 is aligned along the cutting axis 30 with the cutting edge 36 of movable cutter 28. This permits stationary cutter 68 and movable cutter 28 to bear upon opposite sides of the nut 52 when it is positioned within the circular opening 50 of horseshoe-shaped collar 48.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the hollow cylindrical shank 18 has an internally threaded lower portion 76 that serves as a socket for supporting a cam actuating mechanism 78 best shown in FIG. 12. This cam actuating mechanism has an externally threaded cylindrical sleeve 80 with an unthreaded end 81 of slightly smaller outer diameter and with a knurled hollow circular head 82 of the same outer diameter as shank l8. Sleeve 80 is screwed into the threaded lower socket portion of shank 18 until its head 82 abuts upon the bottom end of the shank. The head 82 of sleeve 80 is provided with a pair of oppositely facing flat sides 84a and 84b so that a wrench may be conveniently used to tighten the sleeve securely in place. Sleeve 80 and its head 82 are internally threaded to support an externally threaded actuating screw 86 for turning vertical movement along an actuating axis 88 coinciding with the longitudinal axis of shank 18 and perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis 30. Actuating screw 86 has a hexagonal head 90 with a rounded bar 92 slidably captivated thereby. Bar 92 is used to turn actuating screw 86 in sleeve 80 along the actuat ing axis 88. Ifgreater torque is required, a wrench may be used on hexagonal head 90 to turn the actuating screw along the actuating axis. The lower portion of shank 18 has a knurled outer surface 94 for aiding a person using the nut splitting tool to firmly grip the shank while turning actuating screw 86 with the bar 92 or a wrench. Actuating mechanism 78 also has a connecting rod 96 for coupling actuating screw 86 to cam 24. Connecting rod 96 has a ball-shaped lower end 98 that is rotatably captivated within a spherical socket 100 in the upper end of actuating screw 86. This provides a ball and socket joint between connecting rod 96 and actuating screw 86. Connecting rod 96 has a slotted upper end 102 for pivotally engaging an arm 104 of cam 24. The back of this slotted upper end of the connecting rod is rounded.

As best shown in FIG. 13, the arms 42 and 104 of cam 24 are rounded and project outwardly from generally opposite sides of a hub 106. A circular mounting hole 108 is formed through hub 106 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of cam 24. As further shown with reference to FIGS. l-S and 12-13, cam 24 is pivotally mounted within head 12 and the upper portion of shank 18 by press fitting a cylindrical pin 110 that slidably extends through mounting hole 108 into a pair of circular holes 112:: and 112b formed through the opposite sides of slotted shoulder 16 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of the head. Holes 112a and l12b are located so that cam 24 may be pivoted in the vertical plane of symmetry of head 12 with arm 42 slidably engaging the follower portion 39 of cam 24, with arm 104 pivotally engaging the slotted upper end 102 of connecting rod 96, and without any portion of the cam protruding past the top of head 12. A circular mounting hole 114 is also formed through the arm 104 of cam 24 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of the cam. The arm 104 of cam 24 is pivotally mounted within the slotted upper end 102 of connecting rod 96 by press fitting a cylindrical pin 116 that slidably extends through mounting hole 1 14 into a pair of circular holes 118a and 118b formed through the opposite sides of the slotted upper end of the connecting rod along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of the connecting rod. In order to facilitate insertion and removal of pin 116, a pair of circular access holes 120a and 12011 are formed through the opposite sides of shank 18 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of head 12. Access holes 120a and 12% are located so that they are aligned with the hole 114 in the arm 104 of cam 24 and the holes 118a and 118b in the slotted upper end 102 of connecting rod 96 when cam 24 and actuating screw 86 are rotated to the position at which holes 114 and 118a and b are aligned along an axis perpendicularly intersecting both the actuating axis 88 and the vertical plane of symmetry of head 12. As best shown in FIG. 3, this position corresponds to full retraction of movable cutter 28 from horseshoe-shaped collar 48.

A cylindrical stop pin 122 is press fit into a circular hole formed through actuating screw 86 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the actuating axis 88. Stop pin 122 protrudes from opposite sides of actuating screw 86 so that, as shown in FIG. 3, it abuts upon the unthreaded end 81 of sleeve 80 when the actuating screw is turned counterclockwise along the ac tuating axis 88 to the position corresponding to the fully retracted position of movable cutter 28. This stops actuating screw 86 from being further turned counterclockwise along the actuating axis 88. The position of actuating screw 86 at which this occurs is therefore hereinafter referred to as the first stop position. As actuating screw 86 is turned counterclockwise along the actuating axis 88 toward the first stop position, the slotted upper end 102 of connecting rod 96 and the arm 104 of cam 24 are pulled downward and toward the actuating axis. This in turn forces the arm 42 of cam 24 backward into sliding abutment upon the back end of the cam follower portion 39 of movable cutter 28 and thereby drives the movable cutter backward along the cutting axis 30 toward the back of the upper portion of shank 18. When actuating screw 86 reaches the first stop position, the cutting edge 36 of movable cutter 28 is fully retracted from horseshoe-shaped collar 48 and the follower portion 39 of the movable cutter is forced into abutment, or near abutment, upon the back of the upper portion of shank 18. As the actuating screw 86 is turned clockwise from the first stop position along the actuating axis 88, connecting rod 96 and the arm 104 of cam 24 are forced upward and toward the back of the upper portion of shank 18. This in turn forces the arm 42 of cam 24 forward into sliding abutment upon the front end of the cam follower portion 39 of movable cutter 28 and thereby drives the movable cutter forward along the cutting axis 30 and into horseshoe-shaped collar 48. As shown in FIG. 4, the hexagonal head 90 of actuating screw 86 abuts upon the head 82 of sleeve 80 when the actuating screw is turned clockwise along the actuating axis 88 to the position corresponding to full insertion of movable cutter 28 into horseshoe-shaped collar 48. This stops actuating screw 86 from being further turned clockwise along the actuating axis 88. The position of actuating screw 86 at which this occurs is therefore hereinafter referred to as the second stop position. When actuating screw 86 is in the second stop position, the arm 104 of cam 24 is forced against the back of the upper portion of shank 18 and the cutting edge 36 of movable cutter 28 is inserted into horseshoe-shaped collar 48 to a position spaced by a distance not greater than the inner diameter of the nut 52 to be split from the cutting edge 72 of stationary cutter 68.

As best shown with reference to FIGS. 1, 4-5, and 14, the upper end of shank 18 may be covered by a cap 124 to prevent debris from falling into the shank and fouling the cam actuating mechanism 78. This cap has a circular top 126 and a pair of offset and oppositely facing circular sides 128a and l28b. A pair of threaded circular holes 130a and 130b are formed through oppositely facing sides 128a and 128b along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the vertical plane of symmetry of top 126. Cap 124 is mounted with the lower surface of top 126 abutting upon the upper end of shank 18, with the upper surface of top 126 lying in the same plane as the top of head 12, and with the oppositely facing sides 128a and 128k abutting upon the inner periphery of the upper portion of shank 18. The threaded holes 1300 and 13011 are aligned with a pair of circular countersunk holes 132a and 132b formed through opposite sides of head 12 and shank 18 along an axis perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis of the shank. .A pair of screws 134a and l34b are screwed into the threaded holes 130a and 13% in the sides of cap 124 through the countersunk holes 132a and 13217 in the sides of head 12 and shank 18 to hold the cap in place.

In operation, actuating screw 86 is turned counterclockwise to the first stop position for which movable cutter 28 is withdrawn to its fully retracted position. A horseshoe-shaped collar 48 of sufficient size to accommodate the nut 52 to be split is placed around the conduit 62 and then mounted on lugs 44a and 44b of head 12 by inserting its mounting pins 640 and 64b into socket holes 46a and 46b. The tool is then positioned so that horseshoe-shaped collar 48 fits around nut 52 with the cutting edges 36 and 72 of movable and stationary cutters 28' and 68 aligned along the cutting axis and generally perpendicular to oppositely facing sides of the nut. Actuating screw 86 is then turned clockwise along the actuating axis 88 by means of the bar 92 or a wrench, thereby forcing both movable cutter 28 and stationary cutter 68 into the sides of nut 52. This clockwise turning action is continued until nut 52 splits, whereupon actuating screw 86 is again turned counterclockwise to retract movable cutter 28 and facilitate removal of the tool 10.

I claim:

l. A nut splitting tool comprising:

a movable cutter;

first means for supporting the movable cutter for reciprocating translational movement relative to the first means along a cutting axis;

second means supported by the first means, said second means being positioned for encircling a nut to be split and for engaging the nut along the cutting axis opposite the movable cutter;

third means supported by the first means, said third means being supported for turning movement about an actuating axis intersecting the cutting axis and for movement along the actuating axis in response to this turning movement; and

fourth means mechanically coupled between the movable cutter and the third means, said fourth means being responsive to movement of the third means along the actuating axis for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the cutting axis into the nut engaged by the second means.

2. A nut splitting tool as in claim 1 including a stationary cutter supported along the cutting axis by the second means, said second means being supported by the first means for engaging the nut along the cutting axis between the movable and stationary cutters.

3. A nut splitting tool as in claim 2 wherein said third means is supported for turning movement about and movement along an actuating axis perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis.

4. A nut splitting tool as in claim 3 wherein said second means is demountably supported by the first means.

5. A nut splitting tool as in claim 4 wherein said first means comprises:

a shank, said third means being supported for turning movement about and movement along the actuating axis by one end portion of the shank; and

a head fixedly supported by the other end portion of the shank, said head demountably supporting the second means and slidably supporting the movable cutter for guided translational movement relative to the head and the stationary cutter along the cutting axis.

6. A nut splitting tool as in claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a collar for fitting around the nut to be split, said collar having an opening in one end thereof and being demountably supported at its open end by the head.

7. A nut splitting tool as in claim 6 wherein:

said movable cutter is slidably supported by the head for guided translational movement along the cutting axis into the collar through the opening in said one end of the collar;

said stationary cutter is fixedly mounted within the collar along the cutting axis opposite the opening in said one end of the collar and in alignment with the movable cutter; and

said third means comprises an actuating screw supported by said one end portion of the shank for turning movement about the actuating axis.

8. A nut splitting tool as in claim 7 wherein:

said fourth means comprises a cam pivotally supported by the head for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the cutting axis; and

said third means further comprises a connecting member supported within the shank, said connecting member being pivotally coupled at one end to the cam and being mechanically coupled at the other end to the actuating screw, said connecting member actuating the cam to reversibly drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis in response to turning movement of the actuating screw about the actuating axis.

9. A nut splitting tool as in claim 8 including means for limiting movement of the third means along the actuating axis between a first stop position for which the movable cutter is substantially retracted from the collar and a second stop position for which the movable cutter is inserted into the collar toward the stationary cutter.

10. A nut splitting tool as in claim 9 wherein:

said shank comprises a hollow cylindrical shank with said one end portion having a knurled outer surface, said actuating axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the shank;

said head comprises a sleeve portion fixedly mounted on said other end portion of the shank, a shoulder portion projecting outwardly from said other end portion of the shank, a slot communicating with said other end portion of the shank and providing clearance for pivotal movement of the cam in a plane including the longitudinal axis of the shank, a passageway communicating with the slot in the head and communicating with a top surface of the head from a front end of the shoulder portion through the sleeve portion to provide clearance for sliding translational movement of the movable cutter along the cutting axis, a pair of oppositely facing guide channels extending along the full length of the passageway, and a pair of lugs fixedly supported by the shoulder portion on opposite sides of the passageway and provided with a first pair of mounting means positioned on opposite sides of the passageway;

said collar comprises a generally horseshoe-shaped collar with a second pair of mounting means positioned on opposite sides of the opening in said one end thereof, said second pair of mounting means being retractably engageable with the first pair of mounting means of the lugs to demountably support the horseshoe-shaped collar on the head;

said stationary cutter comprises a first wedge-shaped cutter having a cutting edge, said stationary cutter being fixedly supported by the generally horseshoe-shaped collar with the cutting edge of the first wedge-shaped cutter lying in a first plane including the cutting axis and the longitudinal axis of the shank and perpendicularly intersecting a second plane including the cutting axis and an upper surface of the collar;

said movable cutter comprises a second wedge-shaped cutter having a cutting edge, a cam follower portion that trails behind the second wedge-shaped cutter, and a shoulder for slidably engaging the guide channels of the head to support the movable cutter for guided translational movement along the cutting axis with the cutting edge of the second wedge-shaped cutter lying in the first plane in alignment with the cutting edge of the first wedge-shaped cutter;

said cam comprises a hub portion by which it is mounted within the slot in thehead for pivotal movement in the first plane, a first portion extending outwardly from one side of the hub and slidably engaging the follower portion of the movable cutter to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis, and a second portion extending outwardly from another side of the hub;

said connecting member has a slotted end pivotally connected to the second portion of the cam; and

said actuating screw includes means positioned at one end thereof outside the shank for turning the actuating screw about the actuating axis.

11. A nut splitting tool comprising:

a support structure having a handle;

a movable cutter supported by said support structure for translational movement relative to the support structure along a first axis; an actuating member supported by said support structure for rotational movement relative the support structure about a second axis;

a collar demountably supported by said support structure for fitting around a nut to be split and for engaging the nut along the first axis opposite the movable cutter; and

means mechanically coupled between the movable cutter and the actuating member and responsive to rotational movement of the actuating member about the second axis for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the first axis into the nut engaged by the collar.

12. A nut splitting tool as in claim 11 wherein:

said collar includes a stationary cutter fixedly positioned along the first axis opposite the movable cutter; and

said collar has an opening at one end thereof and is demountably supported at its open end by the support structure.

13. A nut splitting tool as in claim 12 wherein:

said first axis perpendicularly intersects said second axis,

said first and second axes lying in a common plane perpendicularly intersecting another plane including both the first axis and an upper surface of the collar;

said actuating member comprises an actuating screw supported by said support structure for rotational movement about the second axis; and

said means includes a member mechanically coupled to said movable cutter and to said actuating screw, said member being responsive to rotational movement of said actuating screw in one direction about the second axis for driving the movable cutter along the first axis toward the stationary cutter to split the nut engaged by said collar and being responsive to rotational movement of said actuating screw in the opposite direction about the second axis for retracting the movable cutter away from the stationary cutter. 

1. A nut splitting tool comprising: a movable cutter; first means for supporting the movable cutter for reciprocating translational movement relative to the first means along a cutting axis; second means supported by the first means, said second means being positioned for encircling a nut to be split and for engaging the nut along the cutting axis opposite the movable cutter; third means supported by the first means, said third means being supported for turning movement about an actuating axis intersecting the cutting axis and for movement along the actuating axis in response to this turning movement; and fourth Means mechanically coupled between the movable cutter and the third means, said fourth means being responsive to movement of the third means along the actuating axis for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the cutting axis into the nut engaged by the second means.
 2. A nut splitting tool as in claim 1 including a stationary cutter supported along the cutting axis by the second means, said second means being supported by the first means for engaging the nut along the cutting axis between the movable and stationary cutters.
 3. A nut splitting tool as in claim 2 wherein said third means is supported for turning movement about and movement along an actuating axis perpendicularly intersecting the cutting axis.
 4. A nut splitting tool as in claim 3 wherein said second means is demountably supported by the first means.
 5. A nut splitting tool as in claim 4 wherein said first means comprises: a shank, said third means being supported for turning movement about and movement along the actuating axis by one end portion of the shank; and a head fixedly supported by the other end portion of the shank, said head demountably supporting the second means and slidably supporting the movable cutter for guided translational movement relative to the head and the stationary cutter along the cutting axis.
 6. A nut splitting tool as in claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a collar for fitting around the nut to be split, said collar having an opening in one end thereof and being demountably supported at its open end by the head.
 7. A nut splitting tool as in claim 6 wherein: said movable cutter is slidably supported by the head for guided translational movement along the cutting axis into the collar through the opening in said one end of the collar; said stationary cutter is fixedly mounted within the collar along the cutting axis opposite the opening in said one end of the collar and in alignment with the movable cutter; and said third means comprises an actuating screw supported by said one end portion of the shank for turning movement about the actuating axis.
 8. A nut splitting tool as in claim 7 wherein: said fourth means comprises a cam pivotally supported by the head for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the cutting axis; and said third means further comprises a connecting member supported within the shank, said connecting member being pivotally coupled at one end to the cam and being mechanically coupled at the other end to the actuating screw, said connecting member actuating the cam to reversibly drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis in response to turning movement of the actuating screw about the actuating axis.
 9. A nut splitting tool as in claim 8 including means for limiting movement of the third means along the actuating axis between a first stop position for which the movable cutter is substantially retracted from the collar and a second stop position for which the movable cutter is inserted into the collar toward the stationary cutter.
 10. A nut splitting tool as in claim 9 wherein: said shank comprises a hollow cylindrical shank with said one end portion having a knurled outer surface, said actuating axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the shank; said head comprises a sleeve portion fixedly mounted on said other end portion of the shank, a shoulder portion projecting outwardly from said other end portion of the shank, a slot communicating with said other end portion of the shank and providing clearance for pivotal movement of the cam in a plane including the longitudinal axis of the shank, a passageway communicating with the slot in the head and communicating with a top surface of the head from a front end of the shoulder portion through the sleeve portion to provide clearance for sliding translational movement of the movable cutter along the cutting axis, a pair of oppositely facing guide channels extending along the full length of the passageway, and a pair of lugs fixedlY supported by the shoulder portion on opposite sides of the passageway and provided with a first pair of mounting means positioned on opposite sides of the passageway; said collar comprises a generally horseshoe-shaped collar with a second pair of mounting means positioned on opposite sides of the opening in said one end thereof, said second pair of mounting means being retractably engageable with the first pair of mounting means of the lugs to demountably support the horseshoe-shaped collar on the head; said stationary cutter comprises a first wedge-shaped cutter having a cutting edge, said stationary cutter being fixedly supported by the generally horseshoe-shaped collar with the cutting edge of the first wedge-shaped cutter lying in a first plane including the cutting axis and the longitudinal axis of the shank and perpendicularly intersecting a second plane including the cutting axis and an upper surface of the collar; said movable cutter comprises a second wedge-shaped cutter having a cutting edge, a cam follower portion that trails behind the second wedge-shaped cutter, and a shoulder for slidably engaging the guide channels of the head to support the movable cutter for guided translational movement along the cutting axis with the cutting edge of the second wedge-shaped cutter lying in the first plane in alignment with the cutting edge of the first wedge-shaped cutter; said cam comprises a hub portion by which it is mounted within the slot in the head for pivotal movement in the first plane, a first portion extending outwardly from one side of the hub and slidably engaging the follower portion of the movable cutter to drive the movable cutter along the cutting axis, and a second portion extending outwardly from another side of the hub; said connecting member has a slotted end pivotally connected to the second portion of the cam; and said actuating screw includes means positioned at one end thereof outside the shank for turning the actuating screw about the actuating axis.
 11. A nut splitting tool comprising: a support structure having a handle; a movable cutter supported by said support structure for translational movement relative to the support structure along a first axis; an actuating member supported by said support structure for rotational movement relative the support structure about a second axis; a collar demountably supported by said support structure for fitting around a nut to be split and for engaging the nut along the first axis opposite the movable cutter; and means mechanically coupled between the movable cutter and the actuating member and responsive to rotational movement of the actuating member about the second axis for reversibly driving the movable cutter along the first axis into the nut engaged by the collar.
 12. A nut splitting tool as in claim 11 wherein: said collar includes a stationary cutter fixedly positioned along the first axis opposite the movable cutter; and said collar has an opening at one end thereof and is demountably supported at its open end by the support structure.
 13. A nut splitting tool as in claim 12 wherein: said first axis perpendicularly intersects said second axis, said first and second axes lying in a common plane perpendicularly intersecting another plane including both the first axis and an upper surface of the collar; said actuating member comprises an actuating screw supported by said support structure for rotational movement about the second axis; and said means includes a member mechanically coupled to said movable cutter and to said actuating screw, said member being responsive to rotational movement of said actuating screw in one direction about the second axis for driving the movable cutter along the first axis toward the stationary cutter to split the nut engaged by said collar and being responsive to rotational movement of said actuating screw in the opposite direction about the second axis for retracting the movable cuTter away from the stationary cutter. 